AC Milan has inaugurated its headquarters in Dubai, aiming to strengthen its connections with key partners in the Middle East and explore commercial opportunities in the region, the Italian soccer club announced on Monday.
The Gulf region is gaining increasing prominence in global football, with oil-rich nations like the UAE and Qatar acquiring top-tier clubs such as PSG in France and Manchester City in Britain.
Notably, star players like Portugal forward Cristiano Ronaldo are now part of teams in Saudi Arabia, and Qatar successfully hosted the men’s World Cup last year.
AC Milan had disclosed plans last year to establish an office in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), citing a fanbase of 2.5 million in the Middle East.
The UAE is significant for AC Milan as it is home to the club’s primary partner, Emirates Airlines, the flagship carrier of Dubai, which has been a sponsor since 2007.
The airline’s logo has adorned the shirts worn by AC Milan players since 2010.
This move marks another stride in the club’s evolution under the ownership of U.S. investment firm RedBird Capital Partners, which acquired the seven-time European Cup champions in a 1.2 billion euro ($1.28 billion) deal in 2022.
The “Rossoneri” sit third in Italy’s Serie A standings on 23 points after squandering a two-goal lead to draw 2-2 at Lecce on Saturday. They last won the league title in 2022.